What's Worth the Hype? Part 2

I'm excited to bring this back

Hi! From the Carolinas. I’m using the plural because I’m writing this from Chapel Hill, NC, but by the time you read it, I’ll be in South Carolina, near Greenville— up a mountain, where hopefully it’s not 1,000,000 degrees. So, I’m not so much trying to sound like a pretentious coastal grandmother as I am literally in both states this week. And I mean, let’s face it, I do have pretentious coastal grandmother tendencies, but I keep them in check. Mostly. You can read more about my journey here.

I’m bringing this topic around hype-worthiness back because summer is an especially resonant time to think zeitgeist and must-have, right? Like I HADTOHAVE a pair of denim cutoffs like Baby’s. My sleepaway camp self went home and saved her allowance to buy the exact same pair of forest green Birkenstocks that the cool counselors wore. I still watch Blue Crush every.single.June because surfing movies are always worth the hype IMO.

I asked two writers who I love reading because I knew they’d have solid and juicy intel on what they think is worth the hype. Then I also asked my daughter because if anyone has her finger on the pulse….

Here’s the first Worth the Hype post featuring

Erika Veurink

,

Katie Stone

and

Talía Cu

.

What's Worth the Hype?

Charlotte Dean

writes short (hilarious) fiction. Her posts have me dying laughing every.single.time. This Mother’s Day short is an 11/10 riot. Her posts are the BEST thing to send a friend on a random Tuesday. “I love you, maybe don’t read this in a meeting.”

• These Ruti pants! 5’2” so everything is always too long. Except for these pants. I’m lazy and dont’ like the extra step of taking things to a tailor if I can avoid it. These are SO comfortable and just perfect. I wear them all the time. See me in them here— as part of what I wore when I was on the jury of a 3-week murder trial!

• Great mom friends. WORTH THE HYPE. When I had my son, I was so worried I wouldn’t connect with other moms. But I did and I’m so grateful for it. My mom friends have saved me. They make me laugh, they energize me, they make me feel like I can breathe.

• Group family trips. My kid hasn’t done a traditional sleepover at a friend’s house yet. But we have done trips with other families where we all stay together in a big house, and they’ve been the BEST trips ever. My son is an only child, so for him, getting to wake up in a house with a bunch of kids is heaven. And having 6 adults around you all the time is great! (NOTE: This only works if you have good friends. If your friends suck, this will be absolute hell, and you should avoid at all costs.)

• This backpack. I wear it everywhere, to everything and I always get compliments. It’s SO chic. And I’m SO not. I love how the zippers let me slide out my laptop or grab my phone without taking off the whole backpack.

• Learning another language. I think everyone should do it (or at least try to do it). the way it makes you think differently, the unexpected doors it opens up in life, and the appreciation you gain for someone else learning your language…it’s just so worth it.

---

Emily Grady Dodge

writes Just For Fun and while it IS a really fun Substack to read, it’s also lethally authoritative on how to really build a well-edited, well budgeted, well-worn wardrobe.

• Out of curiosity, I took a look at my Substack drafts graveyard the other day and could not stop laughing when I saw one titled “The Best Pen.” I really thought that could be a whole post?! But in all seriousness, I am a pen loyalist and I keep my favorite one around me in bulk at all times. I always have two in my purse, one on my desk, and a few in the kitchen “everything” (sounds nicer than “junk”) drawer. I even travel with them on work trips! I won’t leave you hanging any longer, because I know you’re sitting on the edge of your seat! The best pen is…. Drumroll….the Paper Mate Flair Pen .7mm medium tip in Black. Just trust me!

• My kids have a light up turtle that projects tiny stars onto the ceiling. When life feels overwhelming, I like to blast some 80’s pop music, turn the lights off, and turn on the turtle. My kids dance with me in our very own private nightclub and I swear the tension of the day just melts away. Bonus points for anything by Prince, Madonna, and — very specific — All Night Long by Lionel Richie.

• I lived in a very tiny apartment in Brooklyn during Covid lockdowns and felt like I was crawling out of my skin. On a whim I bought a portable neck massager (only $40!) and it truly was my saving grace. I still reach for it weekly and it freaking works. You put your arms through the loops that hang down so you can be very reactive and adjust the pressure, and wow do I feel like a new person after 15 minutes. It also has a heat setting which is FAB in the winter.

• I don’t know how or why or when I started doing this, but whenever I look in the mirror I smile at myself right before I walk away. It’s really important to me that I treat myself like a friend, and we smile at our friends! I highly recommend trying this for a week, even if it feels weird, and see how you feel.

• This is niche, but a few years ago John Mulaney and Nick Kroll came out with a podcast where they stay in character as the old guys from Oh, Hello (was a sketch from the Kroll Show, which was then adapted into an incredible Broadway show). The “p’dcast” as they refer to it, is an “investigation” into the death of Princess Diana and it is *chef’s kiss.* I re-listen at least once a year. I can’t even listen when I’m on public transit because I laugh too much and that’s uncomfortable. I promise, it’s worth it if that type of humor is your thing.

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Lastly my daughter, who is 14 and not a Substack writer, but you can read her “$23 or less” gift guide here. She is down to earth(ish), has great taste, and is obviously one of my favorite human beings. You may also recall her recent ‘Sure but what’s a raffia hat?’ text. She babysits her tail off and sent me a very solid teen “worth the hype” list

• Starbucks mobile ordering: I hate sitting through drive through and always feel pressured ordering face to face, but mobile ordering at Starbucks is so easy. You can also customize your order without trying to awkwardly explain your weird drink. And after that, you walk past all those people in line to order, grab your drink, and strut on out, saving so much time, especially in mornings.

• EOS Body Lotion: These lotions are super affordable, moisturize super well, and smell AMAZING. My personal favorite scent is Fresh + Cozy, but the scents span from Bubbly Champagne, to Tropical Coconut, and if you don’t like scents, the Unscented version is great too.

• The Unbrush: Even though it’s super popular, it still doesn’t get enough hype. I’m not sure what witchcraft was used to make this brush, but it gets my knots out so well with so much less pain than normal brushes, I also notice that it damaged my hair a lot less and they come in cute colors.

• American Eagle Double V- neck Sweatshirts: I bought this out of nowhere because it looked cute but it has turned into one of my best pieces. It’s super comfy and comes in a variety of colors. I love sleeping in mine, but it’s also really cute over a T shirt for wearing out and about.

• Taking a walk by myself: if my brother or sister or even my mom or dad is driving me crazy, or I had a bad day at school or camp, I like to put my headphones on and walk around the block a few times to relax. It’s good to put on your favorite music. Sometimes I take my dog, but he is crazy, barks at other dogs, and pulls on his leash, so usually I don’t.

Thanks ladies! I love this series, and I will likely bring it back in the fall. Please tell me in the comments anything you find hype-worthy right now.

• I recently signed up for a free trial of this fitness app, and I am really into it. It has workouts and nutrition (recipes, grocery guides— everything), and I actually look forward to the workouts. Will be paying.

• Sarah Shapiro
  on Clare V. for Puck. Like other retailers, she uses e-commerce data to identify promising markets, but ultimately makes the decision by walking through the neighborhood. In the end, she prioritizes community over foot traffic: “Where do we feel like we want to fit in and belong?”

• This is easily the most hype-worthy pasta I’ve made in ages, by

  Caroline Chambers
  .

• I maintain that one of the best ways to really understand Supreme Court decisions is to read them yourself before you read the op-eds, political analysis, etc. about them.

• Nicole Loher
  ’s book is out in the world!

• This is an incredible summer reading list.

• In the liminal space between wake and sleep, I guess I finally ordered these freaking shoes??? bc I got the shipping notification in the morning. In the end, it was

  Angie Uh
  ’s influence. Specifically this post.

• Wraps, like garbage cans, can hold anything; for this reason, they aligned perfectly with the ’90s fascination with so-called fusion food Tell us how you really feel, Atlantic.

• I AM seeing this book cover trend everywhere, now that you mention it. (NY Times gift link).